Favre has 12 interceptions to go with his 16 touchdown passes. Cassel, who has thrown for only 179 fewer yards, has thrown seven touchdowns, but also, only seven interceptions. He hasn't been well protected either. Cassel has been sacked 29 times, 13 more than Favre.

Belichick isn't a nice guy; he's a proven cheater. But he's also having the best season of any coach or player in the league, including the Titans' Jeff Fisher. Consider the injuries he's had to work through:

He lost the best quarterback in football. He lost his best running back, Laurence Maroney. Actually, the entire backfield has been decimated. Sammy Morris has missed three games. Lamont Jordan has missed five straight. Kevin Faulk, who's 32, has missed a game. No matter. Belichick comes up with somebody named BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

What's more, the guys who are supposed to protect Cassel can't seem to protect themselves. Three offensive linemen that signed as free agents in the offseason were hurt before they could ever play in a game. Right tackle Nick Kaczur missed a couple of games. Right guard Stephen Neal was out until Week 7.

That would be the same week that safety Rodney Harrison was lost for the season.

Now comes more good news for the Jets: Adalius Thomas is gone with a broken forearm.

In other words, Belichick has Favre right where he wants him.

On the Mark

By now, you've probably heard of the astounding $28.1 million verdict against the NFL Players Association.

A federal jury in San Francisco has ruled that the union sold out retired players by failing to market their images to Electronic Arts, which manufactures "Madden NFL."

In other words, not only did Gene Upshaw and his cronies make life miserable for retirees with disability claims, they were ripping off their own.

So I'm thinking maybe those "GU 63" patches the players have been wearing should be changed to "GU 28.1."

I'm sure to be overcome with emotion when Jimmie Johnson wins another Sprint Cup next Sunday in Miami.

Kind of how I felt when Vijay Singh won the Fedex Cup.

Who says golf misses Tiger Woods?

I'm sure the President-elect was touched to learn that Brandon Marshall was willing to take a 15-yard penalty for a gloved salute to honor his victory.

Good to know that McCain didn't have a lock on the knucklehead vote.

Giants tight end Kevin Boss caught six balls for 69 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

Jeremy Shockey, who makes about three times more, had two catches, 16 yards and a round of embarrassing words with his quarterback.

All of which makes me think that Shockey will be evacuated from New Orleans before the next hurricane.

If the Clippers were an automaker, Donald Sterling could get some relief on Capitol Hill.

The question isn't how Randy Moss — who mentioned some "iffy calls" against the Bills — had his $20,000 fine rescinded.

It's how the NFL ever fined him in the first place.

If you ask me, though, the league got what it wanted. Bottom line: For most guys the mere threat of a $20,000 fine is enough to have a chilling effect on postgame locker room speech.

Stephon Marbury, who's getting $22 million to do absolutely nothing, says he wants to own the Knicks.

I say he already does.